Work to transform Newark Castle is picking up speed, and the masonry scope is front and center. The Newark Castle Gatehouse Project has secured an extra £2.5 million in funding from the East Midlands mayor to widen the scheme and open up hidden dungeons and underground spaces in a second phase.
Project leaders told the Newark Advertiser that the added second-phase work will not change the current schedule. Phase 1 is still expected to wrap up in summer 2027. The broader goal is preservation of the 900-year-old landmark while also turning it into a stronger visitor draw.
One recent milestone is the gatehouse roof. It was officially completed in mid-September, making the building watertight for the first time in years. That sequencing matters on any heritage job because once the structure is protected from water, interior build-out can move faster and with less risk to historic fabric.
Inside, crews are building new floors that will house galleries and exhibition space. Ceilings in those rooms have been raised to match the original medieval height, with exposed oak beams. Meanwhile, stone masons are carrying out the careful work that makes or breaks historic restoration, fixing, redressing, repointing, and replacing masonry where needed.
Other work includes upgrades to the stone spiral staircase, plus new railings and lighting planned in the months ahead. Steel frames for a new visitor center, gift shop, and ticket office are also being clad in stone to match nearby features.
The castle grounds and gardens are expected to remain free. Admission to the gatehouse rooms and roof is set at £9 for adults, with a discounted £4.50 rate for adult residents of Newark and Sherwood. Children will be able to enter for free, and tickets can be reused throughout the year. Work is being delivered by heritage construction experts Messenger BCR Group, with Phase 1 backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Government’s Towns Fund, and the district council.
Read the full, original article from Newark Advertiser here.